Beyond Boston: John Efthimiou

John's journey from a person with severe obesity to BQ is a great reminder that by consistent work over time, we can accomplish big goals.  John chipped away at fitness for 4 years, and while he lost weight he gained more and more passion for running.  He has run over 350 races in the past 7 years - yes, that's an average of 50 per year!  His two children have run over 150 races each!  He started running as a teen to increase his fitness for motocross - in the 1980's he won the Greece national title and ranked as high as 10th in the world in motocross.  Prepare to be inspired!

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

The Boston 2020 Marathon was the furthest goal imaginable, as my starting point was almost zero fitness and morbidly obese at 270 pounds when I started my current passion of running in December 2012.  I couldn’t run 100m without stopping with dagger-like pain in my calves, and cramps and joint pains persisted. By July 2013 I entered, embarrassingly my first NYRR race after 25 years, finishing not so bad in 1:13 for the 10k. I had a weight problem, which yo-yo’ed and that I couldn’t shake off, and it took 4 years of persistence and increased volumes and race frequency to make a significant dent on my weight and fitness. At the time I was 49 1/2 years old and facing two lose-lose scenarios, weight and age, as the 50’s are a decade of rapid decline and high mortality rates, I took the high road.

I’ve run over 350 races over the the last 7 years, and between 2013 and 2020, I ran 35 marathons, 50 half marathons, with frequent PRs in all distances, superseding my 1987 results (NYRR race overview can be seen here). However, for a couple of years I could barely get under 6 hours in the marathon and I was virtually last in my age group at every race.  A gradually increased volume, fewer injuries, persistence and tenacity helped me improve dramatically, culminating in my Boston qualifying time of 3:33:05 in Duluth’s Grandma’s Marathon (results here) last June 2019 at 190 pounds, an 80 pound decrease and lots of miles as you can see on Strava and on Athlinks race results.

Athletics has been a big part of my life. I was born and raised in NYC, and as a child lived a half year in San Diego and often visited Greece where I became more sports oriented. I moved to Greece in the 80’s and won the Greek motocross championship, and ranked as high as 10th in the world at a world motocross championship event. To be successful in motocross requires extraordinary cardiovascular fitness, hence I ran very often, usually in the 10k range. I entered my first running race in 1984, a NYRR Midnight Run with my family and grandfather, then raced again after retiring from motocross in 1987 when I resumed my college studies in NYC. I entered the corporate world after receiving a BA from Columbia in the 90’s and gradually lost fitness and gained a substantial amount of weight. I maintained a weekend warrior fitness status, occasionally riding my motocross bike and a jog or two, here and there, but weight crept up and up. In 2012 I stepped on a scale, and realized I was 100 pounds heavier than when I was in my early 20’s and was horrified when my doctor in 2012 stated I was morbidly obese at 270 pounds.

I met Harbert Okuti of the Westchester TC at one of my first races back in 2013.  He brought me into the Westchester TC, and I learned a lot about high mileage, the need for recovery, and other common running practices through him and his coach Mike Barnow.  Harbert is from Uganda, has a PR of 2:13:01 (at Grandma's Marathon), and he is a good friend of my family for over 7 years now.

I worked for over 20 years in the banking industry and for the last 13 years worked for a French Bank BNP Paribas, with many peers who love running. I am married to Ina with 2 children, Michelle, a 21 year old girl and Peter, a 13 year old boy, and we all go and race together as a family.  The kids have over 150 races each.

How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I opted into the September 14 option, and when that became cancelled, acquiesced for the virtual, more as a very long training run, but was utterly devastated mentally for a day or two. I regrouped, and just keep plugging away at higher goals and hope to qualify with an even better time at the next opportunity.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I initially thought this was a poor option, but I will run it and treat the Boston virtual event as a very long training run, with no time goals other than a good training pace.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?

I plan to race it, however, I think the odds are against me, as I need to dramatically improve my times to be more than the 2’ off the cutoff time. I think the cutoff times will be further reduced for the allowable quota, given the expectation is that the Boston post-COVID running field will be further limited in size.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.

I started running as a teen to be in better shape for motocross, now I run because I love the euphoria, the inclusive nature of the community of runners, the exhilaration associated with running races, and the health benefits.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?

I decided to run it the same year I began racing in 2013, but because of persistent injuries, dagger-like jolts of pain in the calves, I opted to wait till the 2014 NYC marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?

I rapidly began to improve as a combination of increased mileage and improved diet management using a caloric intake app, and times started improving and from 6 hours, the 3:35 goal got closer and closer, still seemed impossible at over 4 hours, but then I had 6 consecutive sub-4 hour marathons in the time span of a few months, and I knew it was possible, but unlikely at Duluth, Grandma’s.

In the hotel room shortly after the race, with my roommate who finished 3rd overall, Harbert Okuti, after realizing I BQ’d in 3:33:05 at Grandma’s I cried for what seemed eternity. You see, my grandmother supported me in all my motocross and academic pursuits and was a key inspiration for much of the extra effort I put into the last half of Grandma’s that arguably enabled me to BQ and a 13 minute PR over my previous marathon in Paris 2 months earlier.

What was your journey to BQ like?
BQ journey has been the odyssey of a lifetime, highly recommended, and I feel like I’m 20 and have a lifetime ahead of me to BQ again.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?

I decided to run Boston 2020 because it is the epitome of marathon racing short of the Authentic Marathon in Athens Greece, where I hope to race one day. Running Boston means you’ve made it in the marathon world and it is a significant Marathon Majors event.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?

Euphoria, it felt like I graduated with a PhD, and embraced by the running community for success.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?

Life’s setbacks should never deter us from pursuing goals, even if deferred, persistence pays off.

Beyond Boston: Erica Green

Erica's reaction to the cancellation was very real - then after some tears and wine she focused on the positive and is planning for 2021!  She calls herself a "late onset runner" (she has been running competitive for 2ish years), but she also ran her first half under 1:30 and her first marathon in 3:04!  Her advice to those who are mourning Boston 2020: "It’s totally okay to be upset, disappointed, and angry about the cancellation of Boston; these feelings are all 100% valid. But letting these negative thoughts consume us is not healthy. If anything, that should just inspire us even more to fight even harder to get there in the years to come."

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

My name is Erica Green and I am an occupational therapist working and living in south Jersey. I am a late onset runner and have only been running competitively for the past 2ish years - but I am hooked! Running is truly what keeps me sane - especially in these weird and uncertain times.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Initially, I was admittedly glad that they had postponed it. Although I was thinking selfishly, I had just been getting back on my feet after an injury and knew that I wouldn’t be in the best shape when April 20 rolled around, so when they made the announcement to postpone it, I honestly wasn’t that upset. However, when they cancelled it altogether - that’s when the wheels fell off. I may or may not have shed a tear (or two), and poured myself a glass of wine (or two...or five). However, after the initial shock, I told myself that I was going to allow myself to be sad about it for 24 hours and embrace these valid, disappointed feelings - but in the end I knew that my sadness would not change the outcome so I did not want to dwell on it. I decided to then shift my mindset and started to focus on the positives. After all, I now have a full YEAR to train for next years race.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?

No, I don’t. I trained to run Boston IN Boston, and although it would be “cool” to be a part of history and run it virtually, it just isn’t the same for me. I want the full Boston experience. And with my injury history, running a full marathon virtually just isn’t worth it. I want to make sure I am 100% ready to go by the time April 2021 rolls around.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes, I do! Luckily, I have a pretty solid qualifying time and shouldn’t be in jeopardy of not being accepted for the 2021 race. I think being a part of Boston 2021 is going to be an extremely exciting and inspiring experience, especially because it very well might be the first “big” race that occurs post-pandemic. I am really looking forward to running it next year and getting to enjoy the experience that was robbed from us first timers this year.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I have always been an active individual, but never really took running seriously until about 2 years ago when I signed up for a 10 mile race on a whim. The course was hilly, the weather was awful (torrential downpours and heavy winds), and I almost dropped out before the race even started. BUT - I’m glad I didn’t. I ended up surprising myself (and everyone around me) by getting first female overall, and from there, my journey took off. I then went on to run my first Rock n Roll half marathon in Philly and ran sub 1:30, which is when I knew I was onto something. From there, I just continued to get stronger, fitter, and faster, and I am so so grateful for finding this outlet in my life.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I love to challenge myself. I remember running a half marathon and thinking “I am dead - there’s no way I could run twice that distance!”. But that thought inevitably kicked off my competitive side, and I decided to sign up for a marathon shortly after.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?

I may sound a bit pretentious here - but bare with me.  I signed up for my first (and now only) marathon to date without having a goal other than to finish. I thought it would be cool to BQ but didn’t want to put that much pressure on myself during my first marathon, so I just decided to run it for fun. Low and behold, I ended up running a 3:04! After that, I got hooked on the idea of running Boston (as well as other world majors), and really hope I get the chance to in the future.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?

Boston 2020 was going to be my first Boston, and it’s truly the pinnacle of every runners career. I’ve watched it on TV many times, have had friends who have run it and have heard amazing stories about the experience, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. To be accepted after only running one marathon was truly a dream come true.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I learned that there are a lot of things that are out of our control - but that we can control how we respond to them. It’s totally okay to be upset, disappointed, and angry about the cancellation of Boston; these feelings are all 100% valid. But letting these negative thoughts consume us is not healthy. If anything, that should just inspire us even more to fight even harder to get there in the years to come.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story!!

Beyond Boston: Tennille Taylor & Ryan Niehaus

Tennille was gracious enough to share her story along with some of her husband's, because they are on this Boston journey together (adorable!).  She may run Boston virtually but not as a race effort - I wonder if it could be a part training for her next ultra (she has done two!).  She has a great outlook on running that will certainly contribute to her longevity in the sport:  "Running is such a part of our lives now that we definitely don't do it for the racing....the training is what I love the most and getting out and sweating in the morning is truly a great way to start one's day." 

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

I am from Farmington, New Mexico...born and raised. I went to Arizona State University and studied Music. I am a violinist and returned to Farmington after school to begin a teaching studio and play with the regional symphony orchestra.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I was certainly disappointed about the Boston cancellation but I completely agree with it because marathons are probably the BEST place for a virus to survive and get passed around (snot, spit, sweat, heavy breathing, all combined with high fives and hugs).

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I am considering running the virtual race but certainly not as a "race". September can be pretty warm in New Mexico but it'd be fun to be part of such a strange "Boston" event....and honestly it might be the ONLY thing happening in 2020! Obviously all my concerts, church gigs and wedding gigs were cancelled since March so I have only had my teaching and really don't have a lot else going on.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I do plan on running Boston 2021 as long as things seem safe.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present, including why you decided to run your first marathon.
My husband, Ryan, and I started running together in 2011. We had both been swimmers. He swam in high school and really enjoyed it. I swam in high school and went on to swim all four years at Arizona State (as a sprinter....so distance was NOT in my blood at all). A friend referred the book "Born to Run" to me so Ryan and I both read it over spring break 2011. We literally finished reading the book and said "We have to run a marathon". 

Just to clarify, I did not know how far a marathon was until I read this book. My little brother was a swimmer and also ran cross country for a few years in high school. He had also done numerous sprint distance triathlons and even a half-ironman. When we mentioned to him that we were going to run a marathon, he said he already had one picked out and he wanted to do it too. So, we ran a 5k in April, a 10k in May, a half in August, and a full marathon in November of that year. 

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?  You've run Boston previously - how was it?

On the car ride home from that first marathon, we realized I had qualified for Boston....I didn't have any intention of doing that, nor did I really have a time goal. Ryan had run pretty well, as did my brother, but they had not made Boston cuts. A few marathons later, Ryan made his cut, so we ran Boston 2015. 

The day before Boston 2015 Ryan got massive food poisoning and was throwing up. On race morning, he got a decent amount of calories in but they only lasted until mile 16. His first 16 miles were beautiful splits and then he was freezing (it was raining) and he dropped to 9-10 minutes per mile pace and was walking at times shivering. He literally hated the experience because he felt so bad. 

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?

Finally, last year Ryan said he wanted redemption and wanted to do Boston again. I was totally in because I have been dreaming about the croissant cinnamon rolls from Cafe Madeline in Back Bay since the day I ate one in April 2015. So we signed up. 

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?

The postponement felt so weird because it was only 5 weeks away at that point so it felt very much like having the carpet pulled out from under you. September was the dreaded reschedule time because summer training just sucks, but we changed our hotel reservations and chose to go ahead with it. When the cancellation happened shortly after, I really didn't feel much. We had just started training and so many other things had been cancelled that I honestly expected it to be cancelled. Now we are just running for running. We get the miles in and do some hills or fast runs every now and then but we just love running so much. Running is such a part of our lives now that we definitely don't do it for the racing....the training is what I love the most and getting out and sweating in the morning is truly a great way to start one's day.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Since we started running I have run 2 ultras (a 50k and a 55k), 11 marathons, 7 or 8 halfs, and a handful of local 10ks and 5ks (editor's note: that's a solid 5 years!).

Beyond Boston: Da'Rel Patterson

I was directed to Da'Rel by my friend Shawanna, who will also be featured in this series.  He is the fastest runner I've featured so far, with a 2:37 qualifying time - this should also be an inspiration to all runners, because he debuted with a 3:57 in 2014 and kept improving by about 15 minutes per marathon to get to his first BQ (2:58) in 2016, and he has since taken nearly 20 minutes off for his speedy current PR of 2:37!  In this interview, he pointed out the financial sacrifice the BAA made with offering full refunds, which I think we can all agree was very gracious considering how much of their budget they'd already likely used.  He has a great website that details his races and accomplishments, and I enjoyed learning more about him!  

                                         
Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

My name is Da’Rel Patterson. I was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, but I have lived in Atlanta for the past twenty years. I work as a financial statistician at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?

I am certainly not surprised that the Boston Marathon cancelled. Covid-19 has placed a lot of pressure on public resources, including police officers and medical providers. I imagine that it would be difficult to stage such a large-scale event, particularly one that would place additional pressure on already strained resources. Given the state of the world at this time, I handled the announcement with great understanding. I am also thankful that the BAA stepped up and offered full refunds to all participants. I am sure that decision came a significant cost.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I am still waiting to receive further details before I make my final decision on the whether I will participate in the virtual Boston Marathon. My inclination, however, is that I will participate because this will likely be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I doubt that there will be another virtual Boston Marathon, at least not any time soon, so it would be cool to have the medal and paraphernalia from such a unique experience – at minimum, it would make for a cool story to tell in future years.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not? 
I will likely participate in Boston 2021. I believe that it may be one of the first opportunities to return to large-scale big city marathons. Assuming the BAA is able to pull it off, I think the energy will be electric, and I want to be a part of that.
                                                 
How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I got started running by participating in the 2012 Inaugural MLK 5K in Atlanta. My company was a co-sponsor of the race and, as the youngest person in my division, I was asked to participate on behalf of the company. I had never participated in a road race of any kind before, and it proved to be a humbling experience. In hindsight, I was dressed completely inappropriately – I wore air force 1’s, super long (and heavy) basketball shorts, and a university hoodie. It also didn’t help that the course was pretty hilly. I ended up jogging and walking my way to a 37:31 finish time. I felt proud to complete the race, but simultaneously disappointed in my performance as compared to others on the course. This race ended up serving as a wake-up call to how unhealthy my lifestyle had become, in general. From that day forward, I committed myself to a healthier diet and regular exercise. With this change is lifestyle, running became easier. I also joined Black Men Run, which introduced me to a larger network of like-minded individuals; it also let me know that the running community was much larger and more pervasive than I had previously imagined. Things escalated quickly from there. I returned to the MLK 5K the following year (2013) and shaved nearly 10 minutes off my time. Over time, my finish times continued to drop and my preferred distance lengthened. Today, I finish 5Ks in less than half the time it took me when I first started in 2011.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I decided to run my first marathon out of a combination of curiosity and peer pressure. Once I started matriculating within the running community, I quickly learned how many people were running marathons. The familiar adage of “if they can do it, so can I” quickly settled in, and I found myself running my first marathon in 2014 at the Rock n’ Roll Savannah Marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
I set the goal to run the Boston Marathon after learning about it from a friend of mine – Margo Gregory. She was the first person to tell me about the race, and she made it sound magical. The fact that qualifier times were required only made the appeal greater, as it motivated the competitive side of my personality. I remember expressing the idea to a few people; one in particular expressed clear doubt in my ability to do it. Naturally, that only made me double-down on my effort.

What was your journey to BQ like? Was your qualifying time for Boston 2020 your first BQ, and if not have you run Boston before? 
My journey to a BQ was relatively quick, but it was extremely demanding. I ramped up my mileage and intensity and set a goal of cutting 15 minutes off each successive marathon. My debut marathon time was 3:57, so I figured I could get a BQ in two years if I ran two marathons per year. I ended up sticking rather close to that schedule – I worked very hard and very consistently. It took me about 19 months before I eventually qualified with a 2:58 in July of 2016. That first BQ is, to this day, my most memorable race experience. I left everything that I had on that course, and the reward of hearing the announcer say that I had just run a Boston qualifying time moved me to emotions that I didn’t even realize I had been holding. Since then, I’ve run bigger races and faster times, but none of them top that initial BQ. My qualifying time for Boston 2020 was a 2:37, which is also my current PR.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?  How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
I wanted to run Boston 2020 to improve upon my current Boston PR (2:57) and to support a friend and training partner who was set to run his first Boston Marathon this year. We have logged a lot of training hours and long runs together as he advanced towards this goal, and I wanted to be there when he crossed the Boston Marathon finish line. I was excited about this race, and I was excited about my qualifying time, which I thought would put me in wave 1 corral 1 for the first time.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I have learned that nothing is guaranteed and flexibility is key – in both my training and my race plans.

Beyond Boston: Carissa Liebowitz

I met Carissa though The Loop, an online blogging community that was previously hosted on the Runners World website, many years ago (2009?). While we have never met in person, we've followed each other's running journeys throughout this time. She has so many BA accomplishments to her name, but even better she is an extremely positive example of the running community. You can't help but smile about running when you read her blog posts or see her photos (seriously, see below!) - plus she is very real with the ups and downs she shares ("Running will give you the highest highs and the lowest lows"). Once you read her whole story, you won't be surprised that she went straight to the marathon (no 5k, 10k, half, just all in!).

                                                     
Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.) 

I'm Carissa Liebowitz, 38 years old, and live in the Atlanta suburbs with my husband Adam and 3 Boston Terriers. I am an account executive with US Premium Finance and lend money to businesses for their commercial insurance.  

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically? 

Honestly, I'm happy that they made the decision they did and as quickly as possible. Yes, I was sad that they had to cancel just 6 weeks prior to the April date, but it just didn't seem possible at the time to hold an event safely. And with 20 weeks to go to the September event, I really hadn't started to do any marathon-specific workouts yet. Physically, I was actually kind of happy about the April decision as I was dealing with some tendinitis after the Atlanta Marathon the first week of March. It was a relief to just take 10 days off and not worry about it. However, not running was not good for my mental health so I'm glad this was just a short amount of downtime! 

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I do! I have run the race the past 5 years so it seems only fitting to carry on the tradition even though it won't be quite the same. Plus, I love the long run and have run the marathon distance in training so assuming I'm healthy come September, I will be happy to go at it solo. 

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes. Assuming I get in and that they are able to have the event, I would love to run in 2021. It has become so synonymous with my spring and it really is such a privilege to run it each year I've qualified. I think it will feel really, really special if they are able to hold the event in 2021. 

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. 

My first memory of running was in 4th grade when I was the 2nd fastest girl in the mile in my grade. I ran for fun in middle school and then joined track in high school as a 1600 and 3200 meter runner. I didn't run competitively in college (I went two years early - nerd alert), but I did run for fitness. After college, I found running again attempting to get ready for a ski trip. I assumed you needed lots of fitness to go skiing (I had never been before) and got hooked again after doing a run/walk plan.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
After 4 years of running for fun and fitness in my twenties, I decided that I wanted to try to run a marathon. Never mind I had not raced a 5k, 10k, or a half marathon. I just skipped right to the full. I had read a lot about how to build up with long runs and targeted Thanksgiving Day 2009 for my first marathon. It was a humbling experience and I hit the wall at mile 16. I wore lots of cotton and had no idea you were supposed to consume something other than water and Gatorade. But, I finished in just over 4 hours and decided after the pain subsided that I wanted to try to break 4 hours (editor's note: amazing how common that "finish a marathon --> decide you will run a faster one" thing is!). 

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
In 2013, the year of the Boston bombings and running a 3:43 on a hilly Atlanta course, I decided that I wanted to try to qualify.

What was your journey to BQ like?
I needed a 3:35 to qualify in 2013 and had 8 minutes to cut off my best time. I targeted a flat and fast course with consistently good weather and found a training plan that would add a bit more mileage and more workouts than what I had been doing. Luckily, on my 6th marathon and first BQ attempt, I was able to run a 3:33. This was despite my Garmin dying halfway through the race and I had no idea what my time was until I spotted it in the finish chute. 

2020 would not have been your first Boston. Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
I love the tradition. There is no other marathon I've run that comes close to the prestige of Boston. The caliber of your fellow runners, the incredible spectators, and just the whole pomp and circumstance of the weekend. It just feels so special each step of the way. I've always said that as long as I've been able to qualify and as long as I have the financial ability to go, I will keep at it! 

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
It never fails to give me goosebumps. I just still cannot believe I get to go. 

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
It's just part of the running journey. Running will give you the highest highs and the lowest lows. I'm a recreational runner, not a pro. I'm lucky to just do this as a hobby and honestly, there are bigger things to be concerned about right now. I can't change it so I"m not going to spend time worrying about it. 

Tell us a little about the awesome ultra-marathons you've done.
I did my first ultra in 2015 and surprise, surprise, became hooked! I have run 20+ ultras now, including three 100+ milers (editor's note: three 100+ milers, people!!). I love pushing my limits and seeing just how far I can go. Ultras have taught me to have a lot of mental strength and I like to think I have been able to use that in marathons. 

 
Anything else you'd like to share?
Just really grateful for people like you (Sara) for always bringing positivity to the running community (editor's note: likewise, 100%!).

 

Beyond Boston: Lisa Cabiles

My friend Shawanna recommended Lisa as someone to interview for this series, and I'm glad she did! Lisa's story is inspiring; she just ran a PR in a marathon time trial on June 7! She is coached by Ryan Hall, & has big goals at Boston 2021 and beyond (hint: targeted at 2024).

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)
I’m Lisa, Christ follower, mother of 3, and marathoner . I have my eyes set on qualifying for the Olympic Trials 2024. Recently I started training with Coach Ryan Hall and was able to crush my PR by 13 minutes on 6/7/20 with a 3:02:34 marathon time trial.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I was totally bummed by the postponement of Boston 2020 but expected it with all the other events being cancelled due to Covid . Therefore I was really looking forward to the September 14th date . The cancellation of Boston 2020 was a huge letdown though, as I was gearing up to run with #TeamHylands this year, and have gotten to know many teammates via Instagram and FB. I also have known some of them prior to being selected for #Teamhylands and was really looking forward to reuniting with them at Boston 2020.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not? 

Yeah, I will run Boston 2020 virtually with #teamhylands  

We are a team dedicated to running Boston in spirit together the week of September 7th to 14th.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes I have qualified for Boston 2021 and plan to have a race course PR .

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. 

I started running in 5th grade when my Dad took me on a 2 Mile run 🏃‍♀️ and I collapsed on the grass and said I was never going to run again 🙄 

I then did an alumni run with my brother’s cross-country team (not on the team at the time) and ended up finishing 4th female which secured me a varsity spot. I didn’t necessarily like running at this point but enjoyed the team spirit . I went on to run track and cross-country and went to state my senior year .
I ended up not running in college as I was very focused on academics and graduated with an BSN in nursing at the age of 21. 

I continued to enjoy running 5-10 mile runs throughout my 20s. 

 
After I had my first kiddo, we took up stroller running . This is where I ended up finding marathon running. I would go on 10-12 mile runs regularly but hated mornings so never considered racing.

 
Finally October 12, 2016 for my 33rd birthday I ended up running 20 miles. I knew then I could complete a marathon. I signed up for the Seattle marathon 2016 in which I qualified for Boston 2018. From them on it’s been history. June 7, 2020 I completed my 27th marathon with a 3:02:34

Why did you decide to run your first marathon? 

I fell in love 😍 with long distance running and wanted to qualify for the Boston marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try? 

My first marathon; I figured with all the stroller miles I had done ✅ I had the speed and strength to qualify.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020? 

Since Boston 2018 (yes even with the horrific conditions) I fell in love with the Boston Marathon. The entire weekend is electric, and the entire Boston community is so welcoming. It makes for an epic race experience.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
Thrilled but even more so to be running with Team Hylands.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I have learned to be patient and know this time of no racing is only setting me up for my journey to OTQ as I can train harder than I ever have before.

Beyond Boston: Richard White

I met Richard through my local running club, and through running several of the same local marathons (including Bass Pro 2015, which we ran mostly together!).  I've always been impressed with his marathoning ability, and that he just always seems to keep going!  His Boston streak is very cool, and I think he should be an official B.A.A. ambassador.  I know that pretty much everyone in our local running club looks up to Richard.

It may be impossible to top this Boston photo

I have lived in the Branson, Missouri area most of my life. I worked for Skaggs Hospital in the laboratory for many years. I am currently a chemistry teacher at Hollister High School. 

I started running over 20 years ago when my Dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack. I was overweight and wanted to get healthy. Soon I was running marathons and broke 3 hours at the Little Rock Marathon in 2011. 

My first Boston Marathon was in 2009. I loved everything about it and have run in every Boston since for a total of 11 consecutive Boston Marathons. I was surprised when the B.A.A. postponed the marathon this year. Historically, it has always been held on Patriot’s Day despite any unforeseen circumstances. I have run Boston during a heat wave when they cautioned runners against running. I ran in 2018 when a freezing torrential downpour caused many runners, including professionals, to drop out. I ran the year terrorists' bombs killed 3 and maimed hundreds. Then we ran again the next year to show that we cannot be intimidated by cowards. 

The motto of the Boston Marathon has always been “The show must go on”. When everyone was speculating whether the race would be held as usual this year, I said yes. I was wrong. It took a microscopic virus to postpone and ultimately cause the marathon to be held as a virtual event. This reminded me of the movie “War of the Worlds”. 

The Boston Marathon is an awesome event that never ceases to challenge me. I will run the virtual event in September and will run again on Patriot’s Day in 2021. I plan to continue my running streak as long as the Good Lord allows and have no doubt that the marathon will throw me many curve balls along the way. I’m counting on it. 

Beyond Boston: Elizabeth Cox

I officially met Liz in 2007, but her dad was one of my professors in graduate school a couple of years before that, so I'd heard about her running adventures before we officially connected.  I knew she'd had a successful collegiate running career, and at the time all of my running buddies were male, so it was really exciting to start doing some training with her!  We kept in touch over the years (that running buddy bond is never broken!) and have run several of the same races.  Liz has a great blog, with a lot of running posts but also a lot of family oriented posts plus book recommendations - I highly recommend you follow her site.  Her parents, brothers, husband, and children all run too, and pictures of them all in the same race shirt together are the best!

The look of someone en route to a PR marathon

Introduce yourself - who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.
I am a mom and a teacher. I was born in Ohio, grew up in Kansas, and now live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been in Tulsa for 10 years now! I taught 1st and 2nd grade for 6 years before deciding to stay at home with my son after struggling through being a working mom for the first year of his life and realizing it wasn’t for me. After staying at home with my kids for 4 years I went back to work teaching 3 year old preschool part time when we enrolled my daughter in 3 year old preschool. I’ve been at the preschool for 2 years now and plan to go back to teaching full-time when my daughter starts 1st grade. She will enter kindergarten in the 2020-2021 school year. I’m also an avid runner, reader, and animal lover.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Initially when Boston was postponed to September I was deep into my training and had put in a lot of work. I had run 20+ miles 4 times already along with all the speedwork and tempos. I was excited for just a couple more weeks of work and then starting my taper. Then I came down with the flu and was super sick for over a week. I found out Boston had been postponed while I was still sick so I didn’t really care because I felt awful. I was also starting to stress about flying in a plane come April since Covid-19 was making its way to America. I was obviously disappointed I put in all that work and wouldn’t get to show it off in a race, especially since I knew I was in PR shape from the awesome long run workouts I was able to get in. I think getting the flu when I did was a blessing in disguise because it really softened the blow of the disappointment. I knew I lost some fitness not running for a week while sick and no one wants to have a chunk of time off running during a big marathon training cycle, so I knew it wasn’t an ideal situation going into a marathon and focused on that as a positive to keep me from being too disappointed.

I was so excited to get back into training for the rescheduled Boston that I started back earlier than I normally would have. I usually do a 16 week training cycle for a marathon, but I was so excited I started 20 weeks out from Boston. In the back of my mind, the whole time I was training, I expected Boston to get cancelled. I figured once race day got closer they would have to cancel and then I’d run a marathon in town instead. I had already set up with different friends to come run sections of the marathon with me if it came to that. When they made the announcement that Boston would be virtual I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. I hadn’t put in any 20’s yet and was just a few weeks into training so it was no big deal to just transition over to half-marathon training instead. I was so thankful they made the call early so I wasn’t deep into training and because I could just scrap marathon training altogether. Also my family has been a huge part of this journey, supporting me and encouraging me the whole way. My husband, mom, dad, and brothers were all going to travel to Boston to cheer me on. My mom overcame thyroid cancer a few years ago and my dad has COPD caused by lifelong asthma so neither of them were going to take the chance of contracting Covid-19 by making the trip to Boston if the race actually happened. That took away a huge part of the excitement for me that they wouldn’t get to go with us. I’d rather run it when it is safe for everyone to travel and for spectators to gather on the course! A race is not worth jeopardizing the health of anyone involved so I was glad the B.A.A. made that decision and that they made it so far in advance that I hadn’t made it deep into a marathon training cycle again.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I decided not to run Boston virtually because I had just started my training block and had only gotten my long run up to 16 miles before they decided to make that change. I am not a marathoner. I’m more of a half-marathoner who also enjoys the marathon. When I run one marathon a year, I get really excited for those long, long runs and love the training. But I’m ready for a break and shorter races when I’m done. If I chose to run virtually and then applied and got into Boston for 2021, I’d be running 3 marathon cycles in a row and that would just be too much for me. Boston was never about the medal or the gear for me, it was about running the course and enjoying that experience so I’d rather wait to actually run the course.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I plan to apply for Boston 2021. I’m so glad they are extending the qualifying window out so I can use my same qualifying time as I did to get in for 2020. I didn’t run a marathon in the fall of 2019 because I planned to run Boston in the spring. I was 4 minutes and 32 seconds under the standard for my age group, so I’m hoping that will still be enough to get me in for 2021. I also hope they are able to run the race by then! This has all been pretty crazy!

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your high school and collegiate running careers.
I have always loved to run. My favorite games my brothers and I played when we were kids all involved running. My favorite sport growing up was soccer and I loved it because I loved to run. In 5th grade we had to run a mile during P.E. and I realized when I beat everyone in my class, boys included, that maybe I was pretty good at it. I still remember memorizing my time so I could go home and ask my dad if it was fast. I ran track in middle school, setting school records in the 800 and 1600. I was too scared to run the 3200, it seemed way too far! Then in high school I couldn’t decide whether to play soccer or run cross country in the fall because my high school only had co-ed soccer where they played against all-boy teams which happened in the fall. My best friend said she would only go out for cross country if I did it with her, so I decided on cross country. I am so glad I did! I qualified for state in cross country my freshman, junior, and senior years, earning a medal at state my senior year. I also ran track all 4 years of high school and ran every distance from 400-3200 over the years. My least favorite race to run was the 400 but I’d do it on the 4x400 when they needed a 4th runner. I set school records in the 1600 and 3200 my senior year and medaled at state in the 1600 and 3200 both my junior and senior years. I decided to run in college and chose the D-II school I went to because I didn’t want to run year round and they didn’t have indoor track. They actually only had a cross country team but the cross country team competed in a few track meets in the spring. It was the perfect fit for me because it was really laid back with mileage mostly around 50 miles per week, peaking around 80 miles a week. I loved it and our coach made it so much fun. I know I could have been faster had I gone somewhere else but I loved it and I think having a laid back high school and college experience has led to me being a lifelong runner with very few injuries (editor's note: she is being modest, she was and is very fast!). I’ve now been running for 22 years with no major running-related injuries (editor's note: this is a HUGE accomplishment)!

Liz & I after the Little Rock Marathon 2009, with Tanya
 who will also be featured in this Beyond Boston series!

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
My older brother ran a marathon in November of 2006, my junior year in college. Going into it I thought he was totally crazy but then being at the race, cheering on the runners and feeling that atmosphere, I just had to run one too! The following year I ran the half-marathon at the same race where he again ran the marathon. After I graduated college I was so excited to train for my first marathon!

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try? 

I qualified for Boston with my first marathon back in 2008. I knew there was a lot of prestige behind the race but I didn’t really care to run it. I had some bad experiences with the marathon and after running 3 marathon cycles in a row, the last one in the fall of 2009, I decided to take a break. I didn’t run another marathon until 2017 when my older brother decided he wanted to run a marathon again after a serious accident where he was hit by a car while on a run in 2016 and was in a coma for almost a month. He fractured his femur, pelvis, and skull and sustained a traumatic brain injury so it was a long road back to running for him. I really wanted to run it with him, especially since he ran my first marathon with me! When I didn’t train very seriously and ran a PR, I decided I wanted to train better the following year and attempt to BQ. I first became interested in Boston after the bombing and felt a huge connection with all those runners who competed that year. I had a desire to support the race and maybe run it some day. Then after years of reading race recaps from Boston and watching the race on TV, I decided I wanted to experience the course myself! So I set the goal to BQ after my marathon finish in 2017.

What was your journey to BQ like? Was your qualifying time for Boston 2020 your first BQ, and if not why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
I qualified for Boston in my first marathon back in 2008. At the time I was in my early 20’s and my mentality was to train with the littlest effort possible so I got the long runs in and not a whole lot of weekly miles. My highest mileage week was 38 miles with a 20 mile long run! I wasn’t taking it super seriously and just focusing on getting the long runs in so I could finish the race. Since I waited so long to attempt to BQ again, even though I was 12 years older, the qualifying time was now 10 minutes faster! Thanks to the growing popularity of the race and the qualifying times dropping a few times. When I first decided to attempt a BQ and was training for my marathon, the standard was 3:35. During my training cycle they dropped the standard to 3:30. Luckily for me, I was already planning to shoot for significantly under the standard to ensure I would actually get into the race. After running a marathon PR in 2017 off minimal training, I was confident I could run much faster the following year and felt like shooting for under 3:35 was definitely possible. I felt like it was the right time because I was only working part time so it would be easier to make the trip. I had never done any long run workouts before so I added those into my training plan and that made a huge difference for me. Even though I’ve run 5 marathons now, I still feel like a newbie and I’m learning so much from each training cycle I complete.

Tell us a little about the marathons you ran before you achieved the BQ.
Like I said before, I don’t really think of myself as a marathoner and it’s not my favorite race distance so I haven’t run that many of them.

I ran my first marathon in November 2008 at the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, OK. My goal was to finish and in the back of my mind I hoped I might be able to sneak under 3:41 to qualify for Boston. Back then the standard was 3:40 for a female under the age of 35 and anything from 3:40-3:40:59 would qualify you and likely get you in, even though I didn't plan to run Boston. I only ran one 20 mile long run during my training. The course was 20 flat miles and then the last 10k all up and down hills so that was a bit challenging. I finished in 3:40:05 and was hooked. I had so much fun and felt so great, I couldn’t wait to train for my next marathon and break 3:40!

My next marathon was April 2009. My training went really well and I was sure I would break 3:40, that was my big goal. I chose the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon because it was flat. The race website referred to it as a flat, fast course if it’s not too windy. The atmosphere of the race was very emotional and the event was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately the wind was out of control with 20 mph winds and gusts up to 40 mph. It felt like I was getting blown backward at some points! I was pretty proud to finish only 3 minutes over my PR in those conditions.

My third marathon was again the Route 66 Marathon in November of 2009. I got sick the week of the race and should have gone to the doctor but was pretty sure I would be told not to run the marathon, so I just drank Airborne and hoped for the best. I was again shooting for a sub-3:40 finish. At the halfway point I was already struggling and knew it wasn’t going to happen. I switched my focus to sub-4 which I barely got in 3:58:04! The day after the race I went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with bronchitis and a sinus infection. I was so low after that race I couldn’t bring myself to run another marathon and wasn’t sure I’d ever run another marathon.

When 2017 rolled around and I found out my brother was running a marathon in November, I was super excited to run it with him. I planned to run the race and finish with him so I didn’t worry about shooting for a specific time and just got the long runs in. He figured he’d finish somewhere in the 4:00-4:30 range. On race day he got super excited and took off really fast without me. It took me 12 miles to catch up to him and when I did he encouraged me to go on and run my own race so I did. I could see the 3:40 pacers ahead of me and knew if I ran a negative split, I could run a PR. And negative split I did with a high 1:51 first half and a 1:47 second half! I finished in 3:38:58. I was so excited to have run a PR when I was planning on running around a 4 hour marathon! I realized even though it was a PR and I had qualified for Boston with my previous PR, now I would have to run even faster to BQ and set that as my goal for my next marathon.

Tell us about your awesome race, with a PR and BQ in the Tulsa Route 66 Marathon.
My race at the Route 66 in November 2018 was a magical experience. It was one of those races where everything falls together perfectly and the race is so much fun. Using my long run workouts as a guide I thought I was capable of running 8:00 pace for the first half of the race and then dropping to 7:45 pace for the 2nd half. I told my husband on a perfect day with great conditions I thought I could run a 3:26. Race day was cold, barely above freezing, with a drizzling rain and some decent winds. I was so excited for the race not even those conditions could dampen my excitement! To add to the fun, my group of friends I run with some mornings were entered in the marathon relay and I knew I would see them out on the course. Between them and my parents it was like I had a built in cheering squad following me on the course. It was so much fun! I went through the half-marathon mark a little faster than I expected in 1:44 so I didn’t drop the pace right away and decided to maintain until the 20 mile mark to see what I had left. I didn’t want to take off too early and burn out. I hit the 20 mile mark on pace to run a couple minutes under 3:30 and was so excited. I felt great so I really took off and dropped to 7:30-7:40 pace. One of my favorite moments on the course was somewhere around 23-24 miles when I saw my family. My dad cheered and said I was on pace, everyone knew I was shooting for a BQ. I told him I was actually 3 minutes under pace and his reaction was awesome, he was so excited! My brother told me I wasn’t far behind my friend, Morgan, on the relay team. My mantra for those last couple miles was every second you pick up, is a second closer to actually getting accepted into Boston. I also wanted to close the gap between me and my friend in the relay so I could see my friends finish. It was so awesome how it worked out because coming up toward the finish when the rest of the relay team was coming onto the course to finish with Morgan, I was coming up behind them. They all started screaming at me to catch them and finish with them and it was so encouraging. It was the best finish I’ve ever had in a marathon. I crossed the finish line and when I saw my husband I started to cry. I knew I had done it and I was so proud. It was the best race I’ve ever run and I put it together perfectly, again negative splitting the race, this time by 3 minutes. I gave Ty a hug over the barrier and told him, I’d done it, I finished in 3:26 just like I said. He told me that I’d actually finished in 3:25 and I didn’t believe it. I actually had to go to the results tent and get my time because I was so surprised but he was right, I finished in 3:25:27!

How did it feel to achieve your BQ goal and to be accepted into Boston 2020?
It was the best feeling and running such a strong last 10k made me feel so strong. I rode the high of that race for weeks and even now when I think back to that feeling I still do! I was really nervous about getting accepted. Everyone told me I shouldn’t have any trouble getting in with how much I was under the standard, but you aren’t in until you get in! I was so darn nervous because I wanted to run Boston so badly! It was naptime at school and I was sitting in the dark eating my lunch when I got the email notification that I had been accepted. I was so excited but had to be quiet because we had some kids napping and some resting, so I just did a little quiet dance and texted my family!

Side note: Boston would have been my first marathon outside of Oklahoma. That's especially funny because I lived in Missouri when I ran my first 3 marathons. I told my friends that since I was ready to run a marathon outside of Oklahoma, I figured I'd just go big and have it be the most famous marathon in the country. Go big or go home, right? haha

What did you learn from your BQ journey?
I learned that the marathon is a beast and can lead to such high highs and also some very low points. I’ve had a couple marathons that did not go as planned and were so darn rough! Even with my BQ Marathon in 2018 I came down with a stomach bug a few hours after the race and it was a reminder how sickness can steal everything you worked so hard for! With the marathon I think you have to be so mentally strong just not for the race but also for the strong possibility of disappointment. It sucked for me to work hard, get into Boston, and then not get to run. But there are so many people who have worked for years to get in and then miss it by seconds and then people who worked for years, finally got in, and then won’t get to run it this year. So I feel like I was lucky in that I made it in the first year I attempted, even if that year ended up to not be the best year to run Boston since it was the only year the race didn’t happen in the race’s 123 year history. Through my journey I’ve learned to be adaptable and focus on the positive. Those are things that are a continual struggle and journey and this was one more step in mastering my ability to do so. I have also learned that the more work you put into training for a marathon, the easier your recovery is. The most painful recovery I've had was when I trained for a 4 hour marathon and finished over 20 minutes faster than that in the race. The easiest recovery I've had was with my BQ where I worked much harder in training!

Anything else you'd like to share?
Since this is Sara’s blog, I have to share that Sara and I used to be running buddies. It’s something I brag about quite a bit. I used to run with someone who is an aspiring Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier! I may not be fast enough to keep up with her now, but we did run together once upon a time. I have learned so much about the marathon from Sara and I know I wouldn’t have made it to where I am in the marathon without her guidance, ideas, and support. Anytime I have questions and want some help in deciding the best path forward, she is so gracious in sharing her ideas and experience. I feel so lucky to have made a connection with her. I met her at a party the evening after I ran my first half-marathon in 2007 and we started running together in the summers. Back then she was attempting to break 1:30 in the half and now she can run two halves back to back in a marathon significantly faster than that. It is such an inspiration! I always knew if she could just stay healthy she would be soooooo much faster and I’m so glad she has found a way to do that (editor's note, after recently taking 15 weeks off: she mostly found a way to do that, hah! -- and also this whole paragraph made me tear up, running friends are the best)!

Since Liz specializes in Oklahoma races, this was after a 20K
we both ran there in 200?

The "Beyond Boston" Series

When I heard the news that Boston 2020 was cancelled, my heart hurt for those who were entered.  While it's hard to place high importance on running with everything going on in the world right now, this race was extremely important to many and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some.  Many worked very hard to get there, some narrowly met the qualifying cut-off, some have long-standing Boston streaks, and everyone was looking forward to the experience (I won't even mention the logistics of cancelling travel arrangements).

I really enjoyed sharing the stories in my 2:45:01 and Beyond series, so decided to do another series - this time about runners who were planning to run Boston 2020.  I will link their stories below and add to the list as I post them!

Featured runners:
Elizabeth Cox
Richard White
Lisa Cabiles
Carissa Liebowitz

Da'Rel Patterson

Tenille Taylor (& Ryan Niehaus)

Erica Green

John Efthimiou

Ken Mason

Rachel Shuck

Tabatha Dickey

Jenni Sherman

Devra Leach

Sherry Lee

Dean Gartland

The meme below doesn't apply to these qualifiers, but a friend shared it and I thought it was hilarious (as someone who knows all about repeatedly missing a qualifying standard!).

Inflammation Issue Update/Summary

I've stopped calling this an injury, because if the diagnosis is accurate, it really isn't one; the process isn't about healing but about getting inflammation down, and the bone formations in my hip has always been this way.

I wanted to write a more organized summary that linked all of my other posts in case it can help someone else with the same issue. Will my blog come up when people search "mystery hip injuries in runners"?  Hah!  I have been updating this post over time, and now that I've been really running for 3 weeks I'm going to re-post this as the final version.

The summary of the issue is:

• Feb. 11 - I did new knee drive drills after a light progression run, in what was scheduled to be my first week of fairly normal training after the Houston Marathon on Jan. 19.  I took more time off and easy after Houston that I ever had after a marathon, which makes this ironic.  My body was still weak from having bronchitis though.  Basically it was the perfect storm (illness inflammation + weakness + coming back from a break + knee drive drills).
• Feb. 12 - I ran 8 miles easy, with a slight tightness in my hip flexor area at the beginning and end of the run in 35 degree rain.  An hour later I could barely walk and by the end of the work day I couldn't walk without holding onto something.
• Feb. 13 - I could walk enough to go to work, but I was limping badly.  I saw my chiropractor and had ART; he thought my TFL muscle was irritated.  I again had ART on Feb. 17 and 20.
• Feb. 20 - I saw a sports medicine physician, who ordered crutches and an MRI.  I used the crutches for about 3 weeks (update after this appointment is here).
• March 3 - I started biking more.  For the first few weeks of this injury I did very little for me, about 30 minutes of cardio some days (bike or pool) and focused on strengthening my glutes and core (mainly with floor work), hoping that would alleviate my issue. I did some yoga throughout this whole time - how much depended more on the time I had available and what else I was doing versus any recovery factors.  I love how yoga makes my body feel overall, but it didn't do anything positive or negative for this issue specifically.
• Throughout March - my biking increased, not because I wanted to keep running fitness or I was obsessively cross-training, but because I started to love cycling!  It was fun to have cycling mileage goals to chase, and I love being outside. 
• March 26 - I had the MRI, which was a long story in itself.
• March 31 - I got the MRI results, which ruled out all of the "bad stuff" and pointed to a possible hip impingement (not a definitive diagnosis).  The physician prescribed PT and gave me the option of having a cortisone injection in my hip; I chose to do PT first.
• April 1 - I started PT.  After my very first session of manual manipulations and nerve glides, I could walk without a limp for the first time since Feb. 12!  No pain and no limp with walking have continued through present (PT update here).
• Mid-April - When I started PT she had me take a couple weeks off all strength work, then I started reintroducing that mid-April.  By the end of April I was back to doing standing work (weighted squats, weighted deadlifts, walking lunges, jump squats, band walks, etc.) with no problems.  Of course all of the gyms were closed so I was lifting at home with my 20 lb dumbbells.
• April 23 - I finished PT.  I also ran 0.1 mile to test out my hip, and I still had slight pain and a small limp when running (85%), so I scheduled the cortisone shot.  The PT said it would likely be more successful since I did PT first.
• April 29 - I got a cortisone shot.  That morning I ran 0.25 to make sure I was doing the right thing. My hip felt better than on April 23, but just.not.quite.there. (90%), so I felt I was doing the right thing.
• May 7 - I ran a mile pain-free!  I ran 0.5 on May 2 but was about 95%, so decided to take a few more days since the cortisone shot could take up to 2 weeks to take full effect.
• May 8 - I ran 2.23 miles (#irunwithmaud) pain-free, although something felt a little "off".  My whole body felt pretty odd running though, which I expected after not running for nearly 3 months, so I thought I was still on the right track.
• May 9 - I started to run another 2 miles but stopped about 100 m because my hip was back to 85%. 
• May 12 - I spoke with my sports doctor again, recapping my progression and regression following the cortisone shot.  He said that the shot having a positive effect showed that the problem is in the area we have been targeting, although he'd hoped the effect would be much longer lived.  He advised to give it some more time and to continue cross-training (anything that doesn't cause pain is fine).  He said future options include another steroid shot in 3-4 months or a PRP injection.  He also had a hip specialist in his office look at my MRI, and he agreed with the course of treatment my sports doctor was doing. 
• Week of May 10-16 - I walked 2-3 miles most day, to see if that would help me ease back into running.
• Week of May 17-23 - I discovered run/walking allowed me to cover 3-4 miles with no issues.  As much as I disliked stopping to walk, I dislike not running at all even more.  I started with 1:00 run/1:00 walk, then upped to 1:00 run/0:45 walk, 1:30 run/0:45 walk, 3:00 run/1:00 walk. Another perk of doing this was that I didn't get discouraged with my pace being slower, because of course it's slow; there is walking involved!
• Week of May 24-31 - I continued run/walking and continued increasing my run time, for runs up to 5 miles.  I also ran 5 miles straight on Saturday, and tested the waters with a tiny bit of faster running (4 x hill strides).
• Week of June 1-7 - I started running for real!
• I'm going to stop this "come back" log here, but I'll continue to write monthly recaps about whatever God has in store for my running!  I am pretty sure that He knew I wouldn't handle the uncertainty of 2020 races and them getting cancelled one by one well at all, and also that I wouldn't take down time if I could avoid it, so this was the best path for me through this time.  The hip thing clearing up as it did didn't make a whole lot of sense, but I know that God healed it in His time.
• June recap
  
• July recap 
• August recap
• September recap

I was partially through this core workout when I noticed
Bandit laying on his back next to me & had Jon snap a pic

Note to a runner on a comeback: "You'll get back there, but...."

Throughout the time I was off running, I realized how very common injuries are in runners at all levels.  Running is hard on our bodies!  Someone you know is always either injured or returning from injury - and many, many runners you don't know are.

That made me feel better when I couldn't run.  I don't wish injury on anyone, but it's nice to not feel alone.  Social media made me more aware of all of the runners, especially professional and elite runners, who are injured at any moment.   It wasn't just me that was dealing with something!

The last time I was in shape!

But the flip side is that social media has made me hyper aware of people returning from time off better than I am.  It seems that some people can stay really fit from cross-training - if you're one of those people, be thankful!  My body seems to adapt super specifically per activity.  When I started biking I was in top running shape, but biking even 12 miles was difficult and biking 20 miles was harder than running it. I got into pretty good biking shape (20 miles became nothing, 40 miles became "not long", and I rode numerous 50-70 milers), while I got terribly out of running shape!  I expected this to happen, and I didn't bike to maintain running fitness but instead to enjoy biking for itself and to be outdoors, so I wasn't disappointed.  I am sure that biking helped me more than sitting on the couch, but I didn't have an easy transition back to running.

Sometimes it's hard to not let comparison steal your joy.  It seems like many people go straight back into running fast after time off.  It seems like they just effortlessly float back into training, even though I know that's not exactly true.  It seems to come back fast for some people.  Every story of, "I PRed just 6 weeks off of injury" is meant as encouragement but is pretty discouraging when you figure you'll be doing good to run one mile at your former marathon pace 6 weeks after returning to running!  There is also the "I [insert major accomplishment here] after 4 weeks of land running and 1 workout" you hear from pro runners.  Don't even get me started on my error of looking at my own past comebacks (I have learned, age makes a huge difference)!

Many with good intentions say, "You'll get back there" in regards to your running fitness.  If that's a goal you have (it's okay if it's not!), you probably will get back there, but it's okay if it's a long journey and it's okay if you don't get back there too!

So I just want to say that if you're returning from an extended period of time off and are struggling, you are not alone!  I am there too!  I know I can't judge my comeback (from nearly 4 months completely off running) at 2 weeks in, but I am also very in tune with my body and its capabilities, and I can tell you it's going to be a very long time before I'm back to peak fitness!  I look forward to putting in work to get to whatever my current potential is, but I'm not going to tell you one of those stories about how I came back and immediately ran well again.

If you're feeling like you're the only one who isn't coming back quickly, you are not alone.  I know you'll work to get back there (if you want to), but it is okay if it takes 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years.  And you are just as valuable if you never get back there too - God's plans are always better than ours!

7 Monumental months later...

It feels like the Indy Monumental Marathon was a whole lifetime ago, yet at the same time I can't believe 7 months has passed since my last solid marathon.  With the 2020 the world has had, this race has been one of the last things on my mind, and reflecting on it seems pretty trivial, but a recent project reminded me that I still have a lot of mixed emotions about it.

Usually when a race I run a PR in gives out a race poster, I personalize it, frame it, and hang it in my workout room.  The Indy poster sat rolled up in my closet for almost 7 months.  Right after the race, I decided I had no reason to frame it because I was sure I'd revise my PR in 4 weeks at CIM.  Then I lost my brother a few days before CIM and a marathon was the least of my concerns, then despite reservations I gave it one more shot in Houston, at the beginning of the worst case of bronchitis I've ever had (which I now highly suspect was COVID-19 - I'll get the antibodies test at some point).  Next came time off running with hip pain, followed closely by a worldwide pandemic that changed everyone's lives.  I wasn't able to run through stay at home orders/quarantine, and framing a stupid poster was the last thing on my mind!

Then, after 15 weeks off, I was able to return to running on May 30.  There is nothing like returning after time off to make you appreciate your past fitness!  While Indy wasn't good enough, I gave it absolutely everything I had and have recently felt more proud of my performance there - probably mostly because I'm quite confident I couldn't currently run even 1 mile at 6:19 pace!

So, I framed and personalized the poster, which brought up a lot of unexpected emotion!  Three ladies I connected with either during or before Indy are in the photos I included; I realized that I didn't think anything differently about them for not achieving the OTQ (the are all AH-mazing!!!), but I sure can't get past thinking differently of myself for not being able to do it.  I'm proud of Indy but I'm frustrated it wasn't enough.  I'm disappointed it was so windy that day.  I wonder "what if?" Mark were still alive and I'd run CIM.  It's all become so interwoven and I'm not sure how to change that.

Right now I'm in the "I'll never run anything fast again" phase of returning to running after extended time off, but I've done this before so I know it is likely I will want to race again.  I love running so much, and I realize that even more now that I'm back after being unable to do it (absence make the heart grow fonder, and in this case so does biking!).  I would love to take all of the good parts of running and none of the bad - all of the rewards without any of the risks.  If anyone has figured out how to do that, please comment below!  ;-)